Dr Daniel Blackburn BSc, MBChB, MRCP, PhD
Consultant Neurologist and Honorary Senior Lecturer
Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN),
University of Sheffield,
385A Glossop Road
Sheffield
S10 2HQ
UK
Tel: +44 (0) 114 222 2267
email: d.blackburn@sheffield.ac.uk
Biography
I completed my undergraduate medical degree in Liverpool in 1998 and did my medical training in London. I have worked as a neurology SpR in Singapore and Nottingham prior to joining the University of Sheffield as a PhD student in 2005. I worked as a clinical lecturer in Neurology from 2010-2013 and have recently taken up a consultant neurology post. My main subspecialty interest is in dementia.
Research Interests
My research interests are into Post-Stroke Dementia and non-pharmaceutical treatment and management of early dementia or cognitive impairment. I am exploring the information needs of people with and without dementia attending the memory clinic. This will assess the response of people receiving the recently developed Sheffield Dementia Information Pack (SDIP). I am submitting grants in collaboration with Professor Annalena Venneri to study cognitive stimulation in stroke survivors.
I am a co-applicant on a NIHR Research for Patient Benefit (RfPB) Programme: PB-PG-0211-24079 – Using Conversation Analysis in the Differential Diagnosis of Memory Problems: a pilot study is using the technique of conversational analysis to explore how people with and without an organic memory disorder describe their subjective memory complaint. This work is being led by Professor Markus Reuber, who has used this technique in the field of epilepsy and non-epileptic attacks.
Teaching Interests
I am a module leader on two parts of the MSc in Clinical Neurology Neurodegeneration and applied neuro-anatomy). I have helped set up this MSc and develop the curriculum and teaching components. I teach undergraduate medical students and on the Foundations in Relationship-centred dementia care.
Professional activities
I am a member of the Association of British Neurologists.
Current projects
- NIHR Research for Patient Benefit (RfPB) Programme: PB-PG-0211-24079 – Using Conversation Analysis in the Differential Diagnosis of Memory Problems: a pilot study
- I am co-supervisor of David Baker who is researching the astrocyte involvement in MND with Pamela Shaw and Janine Kirby
- I am supervising a project to look at the prevalence of sleep disorders in the memory clinic.
Key publications
- Delayed toxic–hypoxic encephalopathy. Daniel J Blackburn, James J P Alix, Ptolemaios Sarrigiannis, Nigel Hoggard, Oliver Bandmann. Practical Neurology.
- Cognitive screening in the acute stroke setting. Blackburn, D.J, Bahfeidhal L, Randall, M, Harkness K Age and Ageing 2012. 2012; 0: 1–4 doi: 10.1093/ageing/afs116.
- Astrocyte Function and Role in Motor Neuron Disease: A Future Therapeutic Target? D. Blackburn, Siranush Sarsyan, Peter Monk and Pam Shaw. Glia, 57 (12), 1251-64, 2009.